Governess

A governess is a woman employed as a private tutor, who teaches and trains a child or children in their home. She often lives in the same residence as the children she is teaching. Unlike a nanny, whose main job is to care for a child's physical needs, a governess focuses on teaching. She may also help with cooking or cleaning, depending on her job, but her main role is education.

The position of governess used to be common in wealthy European families before the First World War. This was especially true in the countryside where good schools were far away, and parents wanted their children to be educated at home instead of sending them to boarding school. Governesses usually taught girls and younger boys. Once a boy got older, he would leave his governess for a male tutor or a school.

Today, governesses are rarer, but they still work in very large and wealthy homes, royal families like the Saudi royal family, and in remote places such as outback Australia. Recently, some wealthy families around the world have started hiring governesses again. They choose them for reasons such as keeping their children safe, giving them a special education that fits their needs, and allowing the family to travel or live in different places.

Role

Traditionally, governesses taught young children how to read, write, and do arithmetic. They also helped young girls learn skills like speaking another language, playing a musical instrument, and painting. Sometimes, special teachers would come in to teach things like drawing or dancing.

In the United Kingdom, governesses were not considered servants or family members. They worked in the homes of wealthy families but had to follow strict rules. This often made their lives lonely because they ate alone and had few friends. Being a governess was one of the few ways for unmarried women to support themselves at that time. When the children they taught grew up, governesses would need to find new jobs or stay on as a paid companion.

Some governesses chose to work in other countries, like the Russian Empire, where they could earn good money. Many English-speaking governesses lived there, staying in places like St. Andrew's House in Moscow.

Notable governesses

Some well-known governesses include Katherine Swynford, who taught the children of John of Gaunt and later married him. Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury was governess to the future Queen Mary I of England. Kat Ashley served as governess to Queen Elizabeth I.

Madame de Maintenon became close to Louis XIV of France after teaching his children. Anna Leonowens taught the children of Mongkut, the King of what is now Thailand, and her story inspired the book and musical The King and I. Anne Sullivan helped educate Helen Keller, who was both deaf and blind.

Maria Curie worked as a governess to support her education before becoming a famous scientist. Maria von Trapp was the real person behind the story in The Sound of Music.

Fictional

Novels

Many famous books from the 1800s have governesses as important characters. For example, in Emma by Jane Austen, the main character worries about becoming a governess. In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, the main character works as a governess. Other books with governesses include Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë, Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.

In film

Some movies feature governesses too. The Governess is a 1998 British drama film. In the 2012 film Dark Shadows, a woman is hired as a governess. The Sound of Music_ from 1965 stars Julie Andrews as a governess to seven children.

In television

Television shows have also included governesses. The soap opera Dark Shadows had a character who was a governess. In Star Trek: Voyager, a captain plays the role of a governess for fun. In a special episode of Doctor Who, a character from the Victorian era works as a governess.

Other uses

The word "governess" was once used as an old-fashioned title for a female politician, but today we use the word "governor" for both men and women. For example, Keʻelikōlani was called the governess of Hawaii.

Anne Hegerty, one of the Chasers on the British and Australian versions of The Chase, is nicknamed "The Governess".